Want to open a specific drive quickly? This article shows how to pin a drive to the taskbar in Windows for quick and easy access.
As most of you know, the taskbar allows you to pin applications. That way, you can open your favorite or frequently used software with a single click—no need to search for it in the Start menu or File Explorer.
Other than the applications, you can also pin files and folders to the taskbar. However, what if you want to pin an entire drive? For example, I want to pin my Downloads drive to the taskbar so that I don’t have to open the File Explorer first and then navigate to the drive.
The good thing is, though not straightforward, you can actually pin a drive to the taskbar. Let me show you how to do it in simple and easy steps.
How to pin a drive to the taskbar
Key takeaway: To pin the drive to the taskbar, create a shortcut for the drive, add “explorer” to the target path in the shortcut properties, right-click on the shortcut, and choose “Pin to taskbar.”
- Open the File Explorer.
- Right-click on the drive you want to pin.
- Choose “Show more options.”
- Select the “Create shortcut” option.
- Click “Yes” when prompted.
- Right-click on the newly created shortcut.
- Choose the “Properties” option.
- Type “explorer” in front of the Drive letter in the “Target” field.
- Press the “Ok” button.
- Right-click on the shortcut.
- Select “Show more options -> Pin to taskbar.”
- With that, the drive is pinned to the taskbar.
Steps with more details:
First, launch the File Explorer and go to the “Home” or “This PC” page. It will show all your drives. Right-click the drive you want to pin and select the “Show more options -> Create shortcut” option.
Windows will show a warning prompt; click the “Yes” button. This action creates the drive shortcut on the desktop.
Now, right-click the newly created drive shortcut on the desktop and choose the “Properties” option.
Find the “Target” field. Add “explorer” text in front of the drive letter and add a space between both. Press the “Ok” button.
(Optional) Adding “explorer” to the target field changes the icon to the generic File Explorer icon. It can be confusing. So, changing the icon is recommended. To do that, right-click the shortcut and choose “Properties.”
(Optional) Click the “Change icon” button.
(Optional) Type “imageres.dll” in the top field and press Enter. Choose an icon of your choice and press the “Ok” button. I’m selecting a generic drive icon.
(Optional) Press “Ok” in the main window.
Now, right-click the shortcut icon and choose the “Show more option” option. Next, click the “Pin to taskbar” option.
As soon as you do that, the drive is pinned to the taskbar.
If you want to unpin it, right-click the drive icon on the taskbar and select “Unpin from the taskbar.”
—
That is all. It is that simple to pin a drive to the taskbar.
I hope this simple and easy Windows how-to guide helped you.
If you are stuck or need help, send an email, and I will try to help as much as possible.